Status Quo

If you haven't seen our video snowpack summary from yesterday, start there, it's still valid today: https://youtu.be/CDxrLgJS6kA The storm slab resting on the Jan 11 surface hoar/crust is really quieting down, there is a lingering deep persistent slab instability, but the riding is reasonably good right now and folks are starting to push into bigger terrain without consequence. Wind exposed features at upper elevations are wind hammered, and ski penetration up high is minimal. The December crust/facet interface is deep, and still a player, but it's a numbers game now. Is it triggerable on 1 in 100 slopes? 1 in 500? I'm honestly unsure, but with the current temperature regime it doesn't seem to be changing much. Watch for wind slabs up high, avoid rock outcroppings, and anywhere the snowpack goes from thick to thin. Enjoy the conditions at mid-elevations. The storm snow is settling quickly, and there is a zipper crust on the surface, but the sledding is excellent. The skiing is of reasonable quality on north facing mid elevation terrain too.